Recruiters want two things: more time and a stronger pipeline. But here’s the reality...
🔒 70% of jobs are never advertised.
📞 It can take up to 18 calls to reach a single prospect.
📬 And with email inboxes overflowing, your “Spec CV Send” could be lost before it’s even seen.
We speak to recruiters every day who are in what we call a "JAM"—just about managing. You're doing the work, sending the CVs, following up… but placements aren’t landing the way they should. Why?
Because sending a CV isn't enough anymore. You need that email to work—to stand out, get opened, and drive action. With lead lifecycles shrinking to 24 hours or less, being top of the inbox isn’t optional. It’s survival.
So what’s the fix?
🚀 11 Stats to Focus Your Spec CV Sends and Email Marketing
There’s no shortage of stats out there—but we’ve boiled it down to 11 stats (2 above and 9 below) to get you thinking (and transforming) your candidate marketing and boost placement success.
Why Your CV Sends Are Falling Flat
📩 Your clients receive 121 emails a day (and over 30 billion emails were sent last year).
👀 Only 20% of emails ever get opened.
🛑 And thanks to filters, 1 in 5 emails never even land in your client’s inbox.
How to Get Your Emails Opened (and Actioned)
🎯Be Relevant – 61% of clients open emails if your past contact was useful or timely. Build relationships, not just touchpoints.
📌Nail Your Subject Line – 47% of recipients open emails based on the subject line alone. Ask yourself: What’s in it for them?
💘Get Personal – Using the recipient’s name boosts action rates by 26%. Hi John beats Hello Sir/Madam every time.
📱Think Mobile First – 30% higher open rates happen on phones. Short, punchy, and scannable wins.
⌚Time is Everything – Most emails are opened within an hour. After 24 hours, your lead may be dead in the water.
Convert Emails into Real Opportunities
💪Recruiters using their CRM effectively are 34% more productive.
🏃♂️➡️Our Bullhorn HIIT training helps you use your database to its full potential—so your best leads don’t slip through the cracks.
🚦What These Stats Mean for You
If your emails aren’t converting into interviews or jobs, it’s not just a marketing issue—it’s a process problem. And the fix doesn’t need to be complex. Clean data, sharp messaging, and smarter timing can put you back in the driver’s seat.
So… What Do You Need to Do Now?
✅ Audit your CV send process.
✅ Review your CRM usage.
✅ Craft better subject lines.
✅ Re-engage old leads.
✅ Learn what works—and automate it.
This isn’t about sending more. It’s about sending smarter.
Need help getting your emails working for you, not against you? Drop us a line—we’ll show you how to turn your database into a placement machine.
CONTACT US
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Stop Losing Placements: Your 3-Step Plan to Pre-empt the Counter Offer or Drop Out
Every recruitment consultant knows the feeling. You’ve invested weeks building a relationship, found the perfect role, secured the offer, and then... heartbreak! The candidate accepts a counter offer and / or drops out.It’s an emotional and costly recruitment defeat.It seems that the candidates that you spend the most time on, are the ones that are more likely to break your heart.But these dropouts aren't random acts of betrayal; they are the often result of candidates not being educated about the harsh realities of a counter offer.We, as the recruitment industry, have a critical role to play in managing the candidate lifecycle and preventing this pain. We must stop hoping a candidate won't be counter-offered and start actively managing the process.Here is your straightforward guide to preventing counter offers, armed with the data you need to make the case.❓And whilst you read this ask yourself "how can I use Bullhorn to help me prevent counter offers and protect my pipeline?"❓How can you use note templates, emails, messages, tasks to make light work of the process? (Watch our Optimise Bullhorn Part 6 ~ Easy Candidate Management Webinar for tips)💥The Stark Reality: A Counter Offer is a Short-Term FixBefore you can coach a candidate, you need to understand the data. Counter offers and drop outs don't just "suck" for the client and the recruitment consultant, they are detrimental for the candidate as well in the long term.Here are the compelling stats you need to share with your candidate from screening through to offer and start date!Inevitable! 80% of candidates who accept a counter offer leave their current employer within six months.Pointless! 9 out of 10 candidates who accept a counter offer leave within twelve months.Regret! 50% of candidates who accept a counter offer are actively looking for a new job again within 60 days, indicating immediate regret.The primary reason a counter offer is made is financial for the employer, as it can cost up to 213% of an annual salary to replace your candidate.The lesson is clear: A counter offer is almost always a panicked, short-term measure by an employer to avoid the high cost and hassle of an immediate replacement, not a genuine, long-term commitment to the employee’s happiness or career progression. ... And the reasons your candidate wanted to leave in the first place are still there.1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Your 3-Step Counter Offer Prevention PlanThe key to preventing dropouts is to pre-empt the counter offer during the initial screening process. You must be proactive and get the candidate to process the scenario before they resign.🙈Step 1: Gather Intel on Company CultureMake it standard practice to gather intelligence on the candidate’s current company during the screening call. This isn't just about their skill set; it's about their employer's retention strategy.Key Questions to Ask:"Is there a known counter offer culture within your business?""What is the typical reaction when people resign from your organisation?""Are you aware of the firm's reputation for dealing with departing employees?"This research not only gives you crucial intelligence but also starts the candidate thinking critically about their current employer’s motivations.🙊Step 2: Get Them to Acknowledge the LikelihoodThe next step is to get the candidate to acknowledge and vocalise the likely sequence of events."Let’s be realistic: based on what you’ve told me, you will probably be counter-offered when you hand in your notice.""I need you to tell me now, what is likely to happen when you resign? What will your manager say to try and keep you?"By making the candidate admit what’s likely to happen, you remove the element of shock and flattering surprise when the counter offer is actually made. You own the narrative!🙉Step 3: Arm Them with the Facts (The Regret Factor)Now, you connect your intelligence gathering with the hard data. This is the final, crucial step: educate the candidate so they can manage the emotional moment of resignation.Tell them:It’s Not About Them: Their employer is only offering them more money because it’s easier and cheaper than replacing them right now. The trust is likely broken, and they are now a known flight risk who will probably be overlooked for future opportunities.The Core Problems Remain: The original reasons for their resignation—lack of progression, management issues, or company culture—are still there. A simple pay rise won’t fix the broken relationship or the fundamental job dissatisfaction.They Will Regret It: Remind them of the statistics: 9 out of 10 people who accept a counter offer are gone within a year. They’ll be looking for a new role again within six months, only this time, they’ve burnt a bridge with your client.💡By using data to manage the candidate experience and ensuring you have an open, honest discussion about the realities of a counter offer, you can manage this part of the candidate lifecycle and prevent the heartache and protect your pipeline. 👀Keep your eyes peeled! We'll be following this blog with ideas on how automation can help you make light work of preventing and managing drops outs and counter offers.Automation Buddy / Bullhorn RoIWe are Automation Buddies set on helping ambitious recruitment businesses who want to increase speed and sales.We coach to inspire, and build your automations so you can recruit and sell!Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.READ MORE ABOUT OUR BULLHORN VISION SERVICEREAD ABOUT OUR AUTOMATION BUDDY SERVICEBOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION
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Blog
Bullhorn Tip - Place More Jobs
We've got a simple 1-minute Bullhorn tip to help you place more jobs. It's time to filter, work and place (and earn!)Having too many jobs and not enough placements can be beyond frustrating. But we have a Bullhorn tip for you to help you focus on the jobs you can (and should) place! There's plenty Bullhorn can do to help you manage your jobs pipeline and recruitment workflow. It's Time to Place Your Jobs!Here's a quick bullhorn tip about why you should regularly update your job statuses in Bullhorn.Get focussed on the most profitable opportunities.Prioritise your efforts.Boost your earnings. Watch this 1-minute Bullhorn tip - then spend a few easy minutes creating focus and an easy path to placing more jobs. Watch Our 1-Minute Bullhorn Tip on How to Place Jobs QuickerNeed more Bullhorn / Automation Tips? Try our 1-minute tips.Be sure to sign up for (or watch the recordings of) our regular free Bullhorn and Automation webinars.CHECK OUT OUR WEBINARSAutomation Buddy / Bullhorn RoIWe are Automation and Bullhorn Buddies set on helping ambitious recruitment businesses who want to increase speed and sales.We coach to inspire, and build your automations so you can recruit and sell!Plus, through our Bullhorn Vision service we help generate serious ROI from your Bullhorn, data, and people.READ MORE ABOUT OUR BULLHORN VISION SERVICEREAD ABOUT OUR AUTOMATION BUDDY SERVICEBOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION